80 FR 8094 - Bethesda Campus Master Plan Record of Decision
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 30 (February 13, 2015)
National Institutes of Health
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 30 (February 13, 2015)
| Page Range | 8094-8096 | |
| FR Document | 2015-02993 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 8094-8096] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-02993] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health Bethesda Campus Master Plan Record of Decision SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has decided, after completion of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and a thorough consideration of the public comments on the Draft EIS, to implement the Proposed Action, referred to as the Proposed Action in the Final EIS. This action is for a long-range physical Master Plan for National Institutes of Health Bethesda Campus (NIH) located in Bethesda, Maryland. This alternative accounts for potential growth in NIH personnel, new construction, additions, renovations, demolitions, and upgrades in site utilities. Responsible Official: Daniel G. Wheeland, Director, Office of Research Facilities (ORF) Development and Operations, NIH. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Nottingham, Deputy Director, DEP, ORF, NIH, Building 13, Room 2S11, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, Phone 301-496-7775, nihnepa@mail.nih.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Decision After careful review of the environmental consequences in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Master Plan, National Institutes of Health Bethesda Campus, and consideration of public comment throughout the NEPA process, the NIH has decided to implement the Proposed Action described below as the Selected Alternative. Selected Alternative The Selected Alternative is intended to be a strategic tool for the efficient allocation of campus resources, the orderly accommodation of future growth, and the creation of an environment that is both functionally and aesthetically conducive to accomplishing the NIH mission. The Selected Alternative will provide a guide for the reasoned and orderly development of the NIH campus, one that values and builds on existing resources, corrects current deficiencies and meets changing needs through new construction or renovation. The plan sets forth implementation priorities and a logical sequencing of planned development. The Selected Alternative is for a long-range physical Master Plan for NIH. This alternative covers a 20-year planning period, with reviews every 5 years to ensure that the plan continues to address issues affecting the campus. The alternative addresses the future development of the NIH site, including placement of future construction; vehicular and pedestrian circulation on and off-campus; parking within the property boundaries; open space in and around the campus; required setbacks; historic properties; natural and scenic resources; noise; and lighting. This alternative accounts for potential growth in NIH personnel, and consequent construction of space over the planning period. Future construction on the site could include such facilities as new animal holding, research laboratories, and support facilities. NIH will continue to develop the Bethesda campus to accommodate NIH's research needs and required programmatic needs consistent with the commitment to maintain the ``campus'' character of the site. The Selected Alternative advances this objective by programming and locating future NIH growth so that new development would tie into the existing utility services and utilities are available to support growth, and establishing development guidelines for future changes to the site that ensure that as the campus grows new development would be responsive to the context of adjacent neighborhoods or developments. Under the Selected Alternative, the total NIH population on the campus is anticipated to grow in the next twenty years to a total of approximately 23,594, which is an increase of approximately 3,000 employees. The primary growth at the campus would be in intramural research personnel and the administrative and facility staff to support them. The majority, if not all, of the employees would be coming from off-site facilities and are already employees, or contractors, of NIH. Alternatives Considered The Proposed Action Alternative, the Redevelopment Alternative and No Action Alternative were the three alternatives analyzed in the Final EIS. [[Page 8095]] The Master Plan covers a 20-year planning period, but will be reviewed every 5 years to ensure that the plan continues to remain current and relevant to the key issues affecting the campus. The alternatives addressed the future development of the NIH site, including placement of future construction; vehicular and pedestrian circulation on and off-campus; parking within the property boundaries; open space in and around the campus; required setbacks; historic properties; natural and scenic resources; noise; and lighting. The alternatives account for potential growth in NIH personnel, and consequent construction of space over the planning period. Future construction on the site could include such facilities as new animal holding, research laboratories, and support facilities. Factors Involved in the Decision The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires that NIH facilities have a Master Plan and, the previous Master Plan for the NIH campus was outdated. In addition, factors such as the aging of facilities that were designed only to accommodate temporary use, animal housing facilities that do not provide adequate space for projected increases in animal populations, and research support facilities not being adequate to sustain current and projected programs. The Master Plan contains information, analysis, and recommendations to guide development of individual projects. It also serves as a means of informing city and county officials and utilities of future NIH development plans so they can anticipate and plan for the potential effects of NIH proposals on their systems. Resources Impacted The Final EIS describes potential environmental effects of the Selected Alternative. These potential effects are documented in Chapter 3 of the Final EIS. Any potential adverse environmental effects will be avoided or mitigated through design elements, procedures, and compliance with regulatory and NIH requirements. Potential impacts on air quality are all within government standards (federal, state, and local). NIH does not expect significant negative effects on the environment or on the citizens of Bethesda from construction and operation at NIH. Summary of Impacts The following is a summary of potential impacts resulting from the Selected Alternative that the NIH considered when making its decision. No adverse cumulative effects have been identified during the NEPA process. Likewise, no unavoidable or adverse impacts from implementation of the Selected Alternative have been identified. The Selected Alternative will be beneficial to the long-term productivity of the national and world health communities. Biomedical research conducted at the NIH facilities on the campus will have the potential to advance techniques in disease prevention and cures, develop disease immunizations, and prepare defenses against naturally emerging and re- emerging diseases and against bioweapons. Additionally, the local community will benefit from increased employment, income and, government and public finance. Housing Under the Selected Alternative, the building program would improve existing laboratory and office spaces. This would allow NIH to attract well-qualified personnel to the campus. The campus building program would be expanded with nominal population increases. These added employees would continue to seek regional housing options and use local community services. This modest expansion would have a modest beneficial economic impact with modest increased demand for housing and community services. Education The expected increases of employees on the NIH campus are from employees already working in the Bethesda area in the agency's off campus, leased facilities. If any new employees were hired, the current public school capacity in Bethesda or Montgomery County and surrounding school districts would be adequate to accommodate the expected minimal growth caused by the Selected Alternative. Transportation The potential increase in vehicular traffic generated by the additional facilities and employees envisioned in the Master Plan would only minimally contribute to the amount of traffic on the roadways in the vicinity of the campus. If the campus houses 3,000 additional staff, the impact on morning and evening rushes is estimated to be approximately 12 percent more NIH vehicles. When taking into account that NIH's contribution to local traffic constitutes only approximately 25% of the traffic, the impact on the community is estimated to be 3%. Furthermore, by the time the capital improvements contemplated under the Selected Alternative are in place, mass transit developments such as the Purple Line and Bus Rapid Transit might well be in place, thereby offsetting the 3% congestion. The Selected Alternative includes 3,000 additional employees, and would generate approximately an additional 432 a.m. and 439 p.m. trips. The seven proposed Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) improvements, discussed in the EIS, several of which were facilitated through NIH easements, would result in mitigating this slight increase AM and PM peak traffic, and also help keep the congestion standard below 1,600 Calculated Load Value (CLV). Stated differently, the modest increase in traffic would not change the intersection ratings. Lastly, if NIH increases the campus population, it will increase parking at the ration of 1 parking spot per 3 additional staff. Security The Selected Alternative would not be expected to have adverse impacts on security on the NIH Campus. No new security measures are proposed in the Master Plan. Employment If the Selected Alternative is fully implemented, an increase of up to 3,000 employees and contractors would increase the current total of 20,594 up to approximately 23,594. The increase draws from employees that are already working in the Bethesda/Montgomery County area. Environmental Justice The Selected Alternative would not be expected to have disproportionately high or adverse impacts on low income or minority populations of the affected area. Visual Quality The Master Plan's land use plan provides a framework to help organize future development at NIH so that similar land use types are consolidated while open space and natural features are preserved. NIH would exhibit the same basic types of land use as it does currently, but in a slightly different configuration. The Master Plan does not propose any land use changes outside NIH. Therefore, the NIH campus is anticipated to remain consistent with the county plan and zoning regulations. Noise To limit impacts to nearby residences, NIH would limit construction activities to normal daytime working hours. Under the Master Plan, the ambient noise levels at NIH would remain within Maryland and Montgomery [[Page 8096]] County noise thresholds. Furthermore, any minor change in noise levels is not expected to affect the character of the site. Air Quality Traffic is expected to be the primary mobile source of air emissions at or near the campus. Mobile air emissions for the campus at this time are expected to originate from vehicles associated with visitors, commuter transportation, employee parking, commercial delivery, and construction vehicles. Future traffic generated carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations were predicted to be less than 2003 concentrations in the Selected Alternative due to projected vehicle emission rate reductions. Based on predicted values, the one and eight- hour average National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) CO concentrations would not be exceeded and no impacts are expected for any of the proposed Alternatives. Wastewater/Water Supply The Selected Alternative would increase the amount of wastewater generated on campus with the proposal of additional development. To facilitate the construction of the improvements under this proposed alternative, the existing wastewater distribution system would need to be relocated and upgraded as necessary. With the increase in demand, NIH will consult with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) to ensure adequate sewer capacity is available for the campus. This consultation would also assist WSSC in determining if and when any of the public lines surrounding the campus need to be upgraded. All sanitary sewer design would be in accordance with the NIH Facilities Development Manual, ``Section 8-6: Drainage Systems'' of the 2008 National Institutes of Health Design Requirements for Biomedical Laboratories and Animal Research Facilities and the WSSC requirements. No significant impacts are expected for wastewater or the NIH campus water supply. Historic Resources NIH would comply with National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 by consulting with Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) on the need for particular archeological studies as individual Master Plan project elements are funded, designed, and executed. In the event that eligible prehistoric resources are identified and adverse effects are anticipated, NIH would continue Section 106 consultation with the appropriate consulting parties (which would include MHT and may also include Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and Native American tribes) to establish a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to resolve adverse effects. Mitigation measures identified through this consultation could include in-place preservation through site avoidance, protection, or easement acquisition; development and implementation of a data recovery plan to retrieve and analyze the site's resources implementation of innovative, alternative mitigation measures or a combination of these measures. Practicable Means To Avoid or Minimize Potential Environmental Harm From the Selected Alternative All practicable means to avoid or minimize adverse environmental effects from the Selected Action have been identified and incorporated into the action. The proposed Master Plan construction will be subject to the existing NIH pollution prevention, waste management, and safety, security, and emergency response policies and procedures as well as existing environmental permits. Best management practices, spill prevention and control, and stormwater management plans will be followed to appropriately address the construction and operation envisioned in [or ``described in''--the Master Plan itself will not be constructed and operated] of the new Master Plan and comply with applicable regulatory and NIH requirements. No additional mitigation measures have been identified. Pollution Prevention Air quality permit standards will be met, as will all federal, state, and local requirements to protect the environment and public health. Conclusion Based upon review and careful consideration, the NIH has decided to implement the Selected Alternative for a long-range physical Master Plan for NIH Bethesda Campus located in Bethesda, Maryland. The decision accounts for potential growth of NIH personnel, and consequent construction of space over the planning period. The decision was based upon review and careful consideration of the impacts identified in the Final EIS and public comments received throughout the NEPA process. Separate NEPA reviews, when required, will be done on projects discussed in the Master Plan. Proper NEPA documentation will be completed based on the outcome of that review. Dated: February 5, 2015. Daniel G. Wheeland, P.E. Director, Office of Research Facilities Development and Operations, National Institutes of Health. [FR Doc. 2015-02993 Filed 2-12-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140-01-P
![8094 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 30 / Friday, February 13, 2015 / Notices
the meeting. Background material is public conduct during advisory accomplishing the NIH mission. The
available at http://www.fda.gov/ committee meetings. Selected Alternative will provide a
AdvisoryCommittees/Calendar/ Notice of this meeting is given under guide for the reasoned and orderly
default.htm. Scroll down to the the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 development of the NIH campus, one
appropriate advisory committee meeting U.S.C. app. 2). that values and builds on existing
link. Dated: February 9, 2015. resources, corrects current deficiencies
Procedure: On April 9, 2015, from Leslie Kux, and meets changing needs through new
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on April 10, construction or renovation. The plan
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
2015, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the meeting sets forth implementation priorities and
[FR Doc. 2015–03000 Filed 2–12–15; 8:45 am]
is open to the public. Interested persons a logical sequencing of planned
may present data, information, or views, BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
development.
orally or in writing, on issues pending The Selected Alternative is for a long-
before the committee. Written range physical Master Plan for NIH.
submissions may be made to the contact DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND This alternative covers a 20-year
person on or before March 20, 2015. HUMAN SERVICES planning period, with reviews every 5
Oral presentations from the public will National Institutes of Health years to ensure that the plan continues
be scheduled between approximately 11 to address issues affecting the campus.
a.m. and 12 p.m. on April 10, 2015. Bethesda Campus Master Plan Record The alternative addresses the future
Those individuals interested in making of Decision development of the NIH site, including
formal oral presentations should notify placement of future construction;
the contact person and submit a brief SUMMARY: The Department of Health and vehicular and pedestrian circulation on
statement of the general nature of the Human Services, the National Institutes and off-campus; parking within the
evidence or arguments they wish to of Health (NIH), has decided, after property boundaries; open space in and
present, the names and addresses of completion of a Final Environmental around the campus; required setbacks;
proposed participants, and an Impact Statement (FEIS) and a thorough historic properties; natural and scenic
indication of the approximate time consideration of the public comments resources; noise; and lighting. This
requested to make their presentation on on the Draft EIS, to implement the alternative accounts for potential growth
or before March 12, 2015. Time allotted Proposed Action, referred to as the in NIH personnel, and consequent
for each presentation may be limited. If Proposed Action in the Final EIS. This construction of space over the planning
the number of registrants requesting to action is for a long-range physical period. Future construction on the site
speak is greater than can be reasonably Master Plan for National Institutes of could include such facilities as new
accommodated during the scheduled Health Bethesda Campus (NIH) located animal holding, research laboratories,
open public hearing session, FDA may in Bethesda, Maryland. This alternative and support facilities.
conduct a lottery to determine the accounts for potential growth in NIH NIH will continue to develop the
speakers for the scheduled open public personnel, new construction, additions, Bethesda campus to accommodate NIH’s
hearing session. The contact person will renovations, demolitions, and upgrades research needs and required
notify interested persons regarding their in site utilities. programmatic needs consistent with the
request to speak by March 13, 2015. Responsible Official: Daniel G. commitment to maintain the ‘‘campus’’
Closed Committee Deliberations: On Wheeland, Director, Office of Research character of the site. The Selected
April 9, 2015, between 4 p.m. and 5 Facilities (ORF) Development and Alternative advances this objective by
p.m., the meeting will be closed to Operations, NIH. programming and locating future NIH
permit discussion and review of trade FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: growth so that new development would
secret and/or confidential commercial Valerie Nottingham, Deputy Director, tie into the existing utility services and
information (see 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(3) and DEP, ORF, NIH, Building 13, Room utilities are available to support growth,
(c)(4)). This portion of the meeting will 2S11, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, and establishing development
be closed because the Committee will be MD 20892, Phone 301–496–7775, guidelines for future changes to the site
discussing trade secret and/or nihnepa@mail.nih.gov. that ensure that as the campus grows
confidential data provided by Swedish SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: new development would be responsive
Match North America Inc. to the context of adjacent neighborhoods
Persons attending FDA’s advisory Decision or developments. Under the Selected
committee meetings are advised that the After careful review of the Alternative, the total NIH population on
Agency is not responsible for providing environmental consequences in the the campus is anticipated to grow in the
access to electrical outlets. Final Environmental Impact Statement next twenty years to a total of
FDA welcomes the attendance of the for the Master Plan, National Institutes approximately 23,594, which is an
public at its advisory committee of Health Bethesda Campus, and increase of approximately 3,000
meetings and will make every effort to consideration of public comment employees. The primary growth at the
accommodate persons with physical throughout the NEPA process, the NIH campus would be in intramural research
disabilities or special needs. If you has decided to implement the Proposed personnel and the administrative and
require special accommodations due to Action described below as the Selected facility staff to support them. The
a disability, please contact Caryn Cohen Alternative. majority, if not all, of the employees
at least 7 days in advance of the would be coming from off-site facilities
meeting. Selected Alternative
and are already employees, or
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
FDA is committed to the orderly The Selected Alternative is intended contractors, of NIH.
conduct of its advisory committee to be a strategic tool for the efficient
meetings. Please visit our Web site at allocation of campus resources, the Alternatives Considered
http://www.fda.gov/ orderly accommodation of future The Proposed Action Alternative, the
AdvisoryCommittees/ growth, and the creation of an Redevelopment Alternative and No
AboutAdvisoryCommittees/ environment that is both functionally Action Alternative were the three
ucm111462.htm for procedures on and aesthetically conducive to alternatives analyzed in the Final EIS.
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![8096 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 30 / Friday, February 13, 2015 / Notices
County noise thresholds. Furthermore, consulting parties (which would NEPA documentation will be completed
any minor change in noise levels is not include MHT and may also include based on the outcome of that review.
expected to affect the character of the Advisory Council on Historic Dated: February 5, 2015.
site. Preservation (ACHP) and Native Daniel G. Wheeland, P.E.
American tribes) to establish a
Air Quality Director, Office of Research Facilities
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to Development and Operations, National
Traffic is expected to be the primary resolve adverse effects. Mitigation Institutes of Health.
mobile source of air emissions at or near measures identified through this [FR Doc. 2015–02993 Filed 2–12–15; 8:45 am]
the campus. Mobile air emissions for the consultation could include in-place
campus at this time are expected to BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
preservation through site avoidance,
originate from vehicles associated with protection, or easement acquisition;
visitors, commuter transportation, development and implementation of a
employee parking, commercial delivery, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
data recovery plan to retrieve and HUMAN SERVICES
and construction vehicles. Future traffic analyze the site’s resources
generated carbon monoxide (CO) implementation of innovative, National Institutes of Health
concentrations were predicted to be less alternative mitigation measures or a
than 2003 concentrations in the combination of these measures. Announcement of a Draft NIH Policy on
Selected Alternative due to projected Dissemination of NIH-Funded Clinical
vehicle emission rate reductions. Based Practicable Means To Avoid or Trial Information
on predicted values, the one and eight- Minimize Potential Environmental
hour average National Ambient Air Harm From the Selected Alternative SUMMARY: On November 19, 2014, the
Quality Standards (NAAQS) CO All practicable means to avoid or National Institutes of Health (NIH)
concentrations would not be exceeded minimize adverse environmental effects published a request for public
and no impacts are expected for any of from the Selected Action have been comments in the NIH Guide for Grants
the proposed Alternatives. identified and incorporated into the and Contracts on a draft policy to
action. The proposed Master Plan promote broad and responsible
Wastewater/Water Supply
construction will be subject to the dissemination of information on clinical
The Selected Alternative would trials funded by the NIH through
increase the amount of wastewater existing NIH pollution prevention,
waste management, and safety, security, registration and submission of summary
generated on campus with the proposal results information to ClinicalTrials.gov.
of additional development. To facilitate and emergency response policies and
procedures as well as existing See Guide notice NOT–OD–15–019 at
the construction of the improvements http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/
under this proposed alternative, the environmental permits. Best
management practices, spill prevention notice-files/NOT-OD-15-019.html. NIH
existing wastewater distribution system is publishing this notice in order to
would need to be relocated and and control, and stormwater
management plans will be followed to inform readers of the Federal Register
upgraded as necessary. With the about the draft policy and the
increase in demand, NIH will consult appropriately address the construction
and operation envisioned in [or opportunity to comment.
with the Washington Suburban Sanitary
‘‘described in’’—the Master Plan itself DATES: The deadline for receiving
Commission (WSSC) to ensure adequate
will not be constructed and operated] of comments on the draft policy is no later
sewer capacity is available for the
the new Master Plan and comply with than 5:00 p.m. on March 23, 2015.
campus. This consultation would also
assist WSSC in determining if and when applicable regulatory and NIH ADDRESSES: Comments may be
any of the public lines surrounding the requirements. No additional mitigation submitted by any of the following
campus need to be upgraded. All measures have been identified. methods:
sanitary sewer design would be in Pollution Prevention • Email:
accordance with the NIH Facilities clinicaltrials.disseminationpolicy@
Development Manual, ‘‘Section 8–6: Air quality permit standards will be mail.nih.gov.
Drainage Systems’’ of the 2008 National met, as will all federal, state, and local • Fax: 301–496–9839.
Institutes of Health Design requirements to protect the environment • Mail/Hand delivery/Courier: Office
Requirements for Biomedical and public health. of Clinical Research and Bioethics
Laboratories and Animal Research Conclusion Policy, Office of Science Policy,
Facilities and the WSSC requirements. National Institutes of Health, 6705
No significant impacts are expected for Based upon review and careful Rockledge Drive, Suite 750, Bethesda,
wastewater or the NIH campus water consideration, the NIH has decided to MD 20892.
supply. implement the Selected Alternative for
a long-range physical Master Plan for FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Historic Resources NIH Bethesda Campus located in Office of Clinical Research and
Bethesda, Maryland. The decision Bioethics Policy, Office of Science
NIH would comply with National
accounts for potential growth of NIH Policy, National Institutes of Health,
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
personnel, and consequent construction 6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 750,
Section 106 by consulting with
of space over the planning period. The Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–496–9838,
Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) on the
decision was based upon review and OCRBP-OSP@od.nih.gov.
need for particular archeological studies
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
as individual Master Plan project careful consideration of the impacts SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
elements are funded, designed, and identified in the Final EIS and public Background
executed. In the event that eligible comments received throughout the
prehistoric resources are identified and NEPA process. The National Institutes of Health
adverse effects are anticipated, NIH Separate NEPA reviews, when (NIH) is dedicated to improving the
would continue Section 106 required, will be done on projects health of Americans by conducting and
consultation with the appropriate discussed in the Master Plan. Proper funding biomedical and behavioral
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Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:18:09
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:18:09
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Contact | Valerie Nottingham, Deputy Director, DEP, ORF, NIH, Building 13, Room 2S11, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, Phone 301-496-7775, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 8094 |
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